The contact tab on one side of the rear hatch window on my 2000 Yukon XL
came off last winter at 28,000 miles. (More GMC quality construction at
work.) The tab took a little of the conducting substrate with it from the
glass.

I seem to have three options:

-replace the entire rear glass for $700 plus labor (you can imagine what I
had to say about GM when I got that price) or try to find a good used rear
window for half that

-have a glass shop try to solder the tab back on (I understand that this
risks shattering the glass if it is over-heated)

-use a conductive epoxy to put the tab back on

My question is, has anyone successfully tried the second and third options
and has anyone tried them without success?

- GRL

grl

sponsored links

2
15th March 14:50

martin riddle

External User

Posts: 1

Rear hatch defroster tab separation repair

Some conductive epoxies are very good. But they probably will not handle the current, ( Its around 30amps for the rear defroster)

You can try adhesive copper foil, it will make an electrical bond, plus give you the needed surface area. You can solder to the foil
then place the foil onto your defrost grid.

The best solution if replacement. Get a quote from safelight or some other glass place. Qoute on OEM and aftermarket windows (OEM
perfered).

Cheers

martin riddle

sponsored links

3
15th March 15:25

grl

External User

Posts: 1

Rear hatch defroster tab separation repair

The conductive epoxies I've seen are sold for this purpose. The current
should not be a problem as long as the epoxy resistance is low. After all,
power dissipation is i-squared R.Low resistance means little heat to damage
the epoxy.

Where would one get this adhesive copper film? If the adhesive is not
conductive, then it would still not work, right? So is it really any better
than conductive epoxy?

- GRL

grl

4
15th March 15:25

sarge

External User

Posts: 1

Rear hatch defroster tab separation repair

construction at work.) The tab took a little of the conducting substrate
with it from the glass.
I seem to have three options:
-replace the entire rear glass for $700 plus labor (you can imagine what I
had to say about GM when I got that price) or try to find a good used rear
window for half that
-have a glass shop try to solder the tab back on (I understand that this
risks shattering the glass if it is over-heated)
-use a conductive epoxy to put the tab back on
My question is, has anyone successfully tried the second and third options
and has anyone tried them without success?"

I've soldered a couple of these back on with no problem. First you need
to clean the area on the glass real good. Then lightly tin it I use a
tinning paste for that so it tins fast and lessens the heat applied to
the glass. Then I clean up the tab and tin it. Then I put enough solder
on it to flow out when it is heated again. Then hold the tab on the
glass and heat it up till the solder flows and bonds. Let it cool and
reinstall the wire.

I have done both many times with good results.
A product that generally works pretty well is something called "solder
it" silver bearing solder paste. It is a low melting point eutectic
solder - melts at 430F. The tube I have is from Unival Corp,
Pleasantville New York.

7
15th March 15:54

robert

External User

Posts: 1

Rear hatch defroster tab separation repair

Sorry didn't read all the posts so this may have been suggested. I know at
Canadian Tire stores in Canada they sell a defroster repair kit. Looks like
liquid copper to me. Possibly just use some adhesive (like they use for
rear view mirrors) and use the copper liquid to make a good connection.
Robert

robert

8
15th March 15:55

paul of dayon

External User

Posts: 1

Rear hatch defroster tab separation repair

I fixed one on my T-Bird years ago. I just bought the epoxy kit at AutoZone
and followed directions... It lasted 10 years, last I knew...

PoD

paul of dayon

9
15th March 16:27

dark1

External User

Posts: 1

Rear hatch defroster tab separation repair

odd, when I asked the people at autozone about a product for that purpose
(same thing on my tbird), they said all they had was the kits to fill in the
"wires"..nothing to adhere the tabs..
do you remember the name of the product?

dark1

10
15th March 16:27

paul of dayon

External User

Posts: 1

Rear hatch defroster tab separation repair

It's been years ago - I found it in the glue aisle. It may have been
someplace other than AZ but I usually go there first. My next stop is NAPA,
if they don't have it it's not made. The shop manual listed a factory kit
but I know I didn't go to the dealer for it. I expect it was made by
Loctite or someone similar.